26 replies to this topic

[Aaron]

RMNPforums.com officially hits the net today. The focus of this new website will be it's discussion forums. The forums cover a variety of subjects such as hiking, equipment, photography, weather, news about RMNP, sight seeing and much more.

The invisionboard software used for this site will provide interactivity beyond forums posting. Features such as private messaging, image uploading (not activated yet though...coming soon), calendar for member birthdays and events, a user control panel to personalize your account with a custom signature, avatars, add personal photos, and track and manages forum topics. This forums software allows for more features to be added so I'll try to keep everyone informed about future added features. If you have any suggestions or questions just email me.

[Bill 007]

Good morning Aaron!
Killing time at work this morning, I started reading back through all the posts to the beginning of the forum. It's been fun seeing how things have grown in such a short time. I am curious about how it all began though. If I'm not being to nosey, do you mind sharing how all this came about? I know all of us that post here are glad you put in the time and energy (and obviously LOVE!)

Curious Bill

[Aaron]

Ahh, the beginning of RMNPForums.com. I remember it as if it were only yesterday.....

Well first off I've got to do a little bit of dancing, figuratively speaking, as far as how I explain it as I don't want to come across the wrong way. It all started back in January of this year when the trailhead forums went down for 10-12 days. A few of us long-time regulars had managed to stay in contact thanks to tlveik's website. Since we had not heard of anything from the new webmaster of that site (Jesse Speer used to own that site and sold it quite a while ago) we cogitated on what we should do. To make a long story short I offered to start a website in it's place assuming that the new owner of the trailhead/explore-rocky site had just forgot about it and let it expire. Well shortly before I "officially" had this site up and running, the trailhead forums came back from the dead and a couple days later this site was officially born.

So initially, due to the trailhead coming back out of nowhere, I had thought all the work and money I put into it was going to go down the drain. But I persisted in trying to get/keep this site going. It moved slowly at first, as you could probably tell if you've been looking at old posts, but during this summer it really caught on and I'm very glad it did. Here's why I have to dance around with what I say. The main drive behind me wanting to do this site is because of what the trailhead has lacked for quite a while..."leadership"/ownership that cares about the forums and is plugged into the community therein.

So anyway I'm glad it's obvious how much I love RMNP! I really enjoy this website as well and am extremely thankful for the entire community here. I know I'm not the first one to say this but I also look forward to my daily laughs here, reading others trip reports and stories, viewing others' pictures, getting to know more RMNP enthusiasts, reading and/or answering others' questions, etc. And I think it's such a blessing to have all of you here! What a great group you all are! I don't want to come across like a kiss-butt but I'm really appreciative and thankful that you guys are here! All you guys have as much or more to do with this site's survival and success than I do.

And now since the site is (knock on wood) strong and likely to survive, it's time to start doing things I've put off like a "real" design, and RMNP related info, etc. I had put this off due to all the initial things eating up my time like getting people into the forums, etc, and waiting until I was sure it would survive. So if there's anything you'd like to see on the site let me know. I'd appreciate any input.

Thanks again to all you great members for contributing to this site and helping it grow!

--Aaron

[Bill 007]

It's ironic that the trailhead going down started you on this. We had been looking in on Jesse's site for a couple of years. Primarily because of his photo journals and trip reports. We noticed that it kinda died but were'nt aware that he no longer was involved. Well, it all turned out for the best cuz this site " Kicks A**"
Bill

[epjunkie]

Aaron:

I want to add my appreciation for RMNP Forums timely birth and development.

Jack :)

[Aaron]

Thanks guys! Definitely my pleasure!! Thanks for joining and contributing!

--Aaron

[weatherbe]

Let me throw my 2 cents in even though my "birthdate" on this site is not even a week old
*chuckle*. I've said this to Aaron and alluded to it in my other posts, but this site really does answer all of our needs. I have been a part of Lee's online listserve for years, and it really does have some nice points and some really good folks there. However, I really like the feel of this site and all of the great folks who are part of this community. Sometimes over there I feel like an outsider even after going there for 7 or 8 years, but I already feel I belong here.

You mentioned Aaron something about if this site survives ... believe me, it will survive!!

Take care,
Greg

[Marvman]

Hey Craig,

Glad you feel at home here, it's the personal touches, eh? As long as you've got the crystal ball out.... am I still gonna have all my hair at 50?

Marvman
(think he'll notice? :P )

[Bill 007]

Marvman - No crystal ball is needed! Unfortunately at 50 you'll develope a need to wear a cap in public. You will find that you save lots & lots on hair care products but, sadly, haircuts will still cost the same! At fifty your vanity is pretty well shot anyway. Or so I'm told! Besides I think I look pretty dashing in a hat!
Bill

[chipper]

It's ironic that the trailhead going down started you on this. We had been looking in on Jesse's site for a couple of years. Primarily because of his photo journals and trip reports. We noticed that it kinda died but were'nt aware that he no longer was involved. Well, it all turned out for the best cuz this site " Kicks A**"
Bill

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was searching around the old topics to catch up and found this one. This led me to take a look at the trailhead forum. I hit "hot topics for today" and there were two posts. One a question about the status of Long's Peak. The second was an answer: "try asking at RMNPforums.com. Got a kick out of that.

[John]

I posted that. I just hate it when I ask a question and nobody answers. People here answer every question I've ever asked even if it had been answered a dozen times before. So I feel I do people a service when I point them to a website that has helped me.

[DeeCeeM]

I just hate it when I ask a question and nobody answers.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, I think a question should always at least be acknowledged, even if no one knows the answer (a very rare occurance around these parts!) At least it lets the poster know he's not being ignored.

[weatherbe]

I have been on many listserves and forums, and I have never found one as courteous and friendly as RMNPforums. It is almost a year to the day (actually the 19th) that I found this forum. It was so cool to get a nice warm welcome from the time I logged in as weather . What a great bunch of folks and a great forum. All thanks to Aaron!!!!

Weather

Yeah, I think a question should always at least be acknowledged, even if no one knows the answer (a very rare occurance around these parts!)  At least it lets the poster know he's not being ignored.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[randyman]

All thanks to Aaron!!!!

Yeah, even though he's a total piece of , I think we'll keep him. (after all, he got me hooked on the park itself back in 2001) Thanks dork.

Randyman

[Allie]

Thank you, Aaron for this forum. I had asked a question on another forum, and not getting much response, Profhall suggested I try this forum. Boy, what a pleasure that turned out to be. Great group of people here.

Allie